Autotech Academy marks five years of tackling the automotive industry’s ‘experience gap’ as youth employment fears grow.
As warnings emerge that Britain risks creating a “lost generation” of young people struggling to enter employment, automotive internship provider Autotech Academy is marking five years of helping qualified vehicle technicians secure their first role in the industry.
The milestone comes as a major national review warns the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) could rise to 1.25 million by the early 2030s, with lack of workplace experience identified as one of the biggest barriers preventing young people entering skilled careers.
Within automotive, the contradiction is becoming increasingly stark.
Latest Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) figures show more than 25,000 automotive qualifications were issued in Q3 2025 alone, a 12% increase year-on-year, yet around 16,000 roles across the sector remain unfilled as employers continue to struggle to recruit experienced technicians.
For many newly qualified vehicle technicians, the challenge is not passing their qualifications, it is getting somebody to give them their first opportunity.
One former Autotech Academy intern, Cameron Bell, now a Service Technician at Stoneacre Motor Group, said: “I kept hearing I needed experience, but no one was willing to give me a chance. The hardest part was getting your foot in the door.”
Another former intern added: “I thought once I had qualified, I would easily find work but realised it was easier said than done. I tried independents and dealer groups for technician positions and even considered going down the apprentice route just to secure a role but, in doing this, I may as well have written off the last three years of my course.”
When Autotech Academy launched in 2021, it did so after hearing repeated reports that up to 10,000 newly qualified automotive students were leaving the industry every year after struggling to secure their first role in a workshop.
Five years on, the business says the challenge of converting qualified young people into working technicians remains one of the biggest threats to the industry’s long-term talent pipeline. Earlier this year alone, Autotech Academy revealed it was in contact with more than 830 newly qualified vehicle technicians actively seeking work across the UK, underlining the scale of untapped talent still struggling to gain that crucial first industry opportunity.
Since launch, Autotech Academy has placed more than 540 interns across over 200 garage sites nationwide, with 95% progressing into permanent roles following successful completion of their placement.
Working alongside FE colleges and automotive employers nationwide, Autotech Academy places newly qualified Level 2 and Level 3 vehicle technicians into paid internships across the aftermarket, while providing ongoing support, uniforms and professional toolkits throughout their placement. Interns keep their toolkit if they secure permanent employment following the internship.
Simon King, CEO of Autotech Academy, comments: “Five years ago, we recognised the industry wasn’t necessarily struggling to attract young people into automotive, it was struggling to transition them into employment.
“What we continue to see today is a generation of qualified young people who are motivated, capable and work-ready, but who simply need somebody to give them that first opportunity.
“The wider national conversation around youth employment and work experience makes this issue even more relevant today than when we launched. Employers are crying out for talent, while qualified students are still struggling to gain the practical experience needed to secure a permanent role.
“If the automotive industry wants to strengthen its long-term workforce, we have to stop losing qualified people before their careers have even started.”
Over the last five years, the programme has continued to evolve alongside industry needs, expanding opportunities for both Level 2 and Level 3 students while introducing more flexible recruitment routes for independent garages and fast-fit businesses.
With recruitment pressures expected to remain high, an ageing workforce continuing to impact the sector and demand for EV-skilled technicians continuing to rise, Autotech Academy believes stronger collaboration between colleges and employers will be critical to securing the future automotive workforce.
